ISLAMABAD – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reacted to curbsagainst freedom of speech in Pakistan as Reporters Without Borders puts thefifth-most populous country at 157th position out of 180 countries.
The Democratic leader made the remarks on Tuesday while responding to ajournalist during a presser on the World Press Freedom Day. He said thatmedia curbs undermine Pakistan’s image as well as its ability to progress.
Blinken, who is a close aide of President Biden, added that Washington isaware of such curbs on media organisations and civil society in the SouthAsian country.
US official mentioned taking this matter in engagements with Pakistaniofficials when asked about State Department’s role in efforts againstattacks on journalists in Pakistan. He further maintained that suchpractices weaken peaceful assembly.
Blinken responded that Washington regularly takes this up in ourengagements with Pakistani counterparts, saying this is a feature of theannual Human Rights Reports that we put out.
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US official responded to a question a day after Reporters Without Borderssaid freedom of expression witnessed a notable decline in Pakistan. Thecountry has fallen 12 points on the press freedom score in one year and nowranks even below war-torn Afghanistan.
On the other hand, newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said thePML-N government was fully committed to ensuring freedom of press andspeech.
Lamenting strict policies during the Imran Khan regime, the premier saidthe PTI government placed our democracy in a bad light. He also mentionedthat steps against freedom of speech only earned the PTI Chief the shamefultitle of ‘press freedom predator’.
